Lafayette's Flatirons Community Church stakes out opposition to gay marriage

Leaders of state's largest congregation post statements on hot-button issue

By Charlie Brennan Camera Staff Writer

Posted:
03/30/2013 02:00:00 PM MDT

Two top leaders of Lafayette s Flatirons Community Church last week made public statements in support of marriage being defined solely as a union between a man and a woman, saying they had been bombarded on the issue following arguments earlier in the week before the Supreme Court. (Cliff Grassmick / Daily Camera)

Following landmark gay-marriage arguments before the Supreme Court this week, two top officials at Lafayette's Flatirons Community Church -- which claims the largest congregation in Colorado -- have taken public stands in support of marriage being defined solely as a union between a man and a woman.

Jim Burgen, lead pastor at Flatirons, on his Facebook page Thursday advised that, "All a follower of Jesus needs to do is say that you are hanging onto the definition of marriage that you find from Jesus who said that it was between one man and one woman (Matthew 19:4-6)."

Burgen's Facebook statementconcludes with, "Christians are always being labeled as 'against' something. Why can't we just be FOR what Jesus said was right, best, true and good? Jesus said 'this is what marriage was designed to be from the beginning.' I'm just sticking with that as the best plan."

In its first 24 hours, Burgen's post had generated more than 1,000 "likes," had been shared 250 times and generated in excess of 350 comments -- many of which were supportive, some in opposition, and plenty representing a very lively debate.

Also late in the week, Scott Nickell, one of two teaching pastors at the 15,000-member nondenominational church, wrote a lengthy blog entry on the Flatirons websitein opposition to what he termed "so-called 'gay marriage.'"

Nickell stated in the blog that he and Burgen have been "bombarded with questions from folks in our church about 'gay marriage'" in light of the Supreme Court this past week hearing oral arguments about California's Proposition 8 and the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Same-sex marriage is a topic that also has gained added currency in Colorado with the recent passage of a bill allowing for legal recognition of same-sex unions, which takes effect in the state May 1.

In making his case, Nickell wrote that there is a non-Biblical argument in support of denying marital rights to same-sex couples.

"The 'right' to be married is one of the most often denied rights in our country," he stated. "We deny the right to be married to children. We deny the right to be married to groups of people, 3 or more who wish to be married."

A blog post on Flatirons Community Church's official website by Scott Nickell, one of two teaching pastors.

He went on to state, "We deny the right of a person to marry an animal or a tree. We deny the right of a bi-sexual to marry a man and a woman."

Nickell, while claiming that heterosexuals "have done far more damage to the institution of marriage than homosexuals ever have," also turned to the Bible in making his case. Citing Matthew 19:4-6, like Burgen, he added, "I believe based on the Bible, which is my authority for life and the number one value at Flatirons, that God defines marriage and no human institution can change that, we can only choose whether we want to acknowledge it or not."

Pastor: Views 'not recent'

Flatirons has seen its numbers mushroom in recent years, from 10,000 to 15,000 today. Just two years after moving into its current 162,000-square-foot space on South Boulder Road in Lafayette, the church recently purchased the vacant $5 million, 51,200-square-foot Lookout Mountain Community Church in Genesee to develop that site into a second campus.

It is the second-fastest growing church in the U.S., and in 2012 ranked 23rd in size, in the country, according to Outreach magazine.

Messages for Nickell on Friday seeking comment were not returned.

Burgen, in a written comment to the Camera, said, "The stances that Scott and I have taken are not 'recent.' We have consistently said the same thing. Everybody has fallen short of the Glory of God (that's sin), everybody is dependent upon Jesus for grace and Flatirons will never single out one sin as worse than any other sin... nor will we NOT call anything a sin that the Word of God has defined as sin. Instead, we say, Me Too.

"Your sin and struggle may not be the same as mine... but mine is as disqualifying as anyone else's, gay or straight," Burgen added.

Reaction in congregation is split

To some church members, though, Nickell's blog post and Burgen's Facebook statement express opinions that run counter to Flatirons' much-touted attitude of broad inclusion, captured by the slogan "Me Too."

Lindsey Babcock, 24, of Longmont, said, "I am not sure this stance that they have taken expresses a 'me-too' opinion toward someone who is gay. As a supporter of gay people, I found it to be completely against what the church stands for."

Babcock, who is studying behavioral science and social work at Metropolitan State University of Denver, had -- as recently as Thursday -- been touting Flatirons to a gay relative, suggesting she might want to explore the church.

"But then I saw the (Nickell) blog post, and I let her know I may not even continue with it -- and I don't think it's one she should even explore."

Because Nickell's post appeared on the official church website, Babcock said she it as reflecting the official stance of the church -- one she believed there was no need to issue, yet.

"I think maybe after a Supreme Court decision had been made, that might be an appropriate time to let people know this is their stance," she said. "I think they got involved in a political debate, instead of a political decision."

Lafayette resident Sara Richter, 36, said she and her husband and two children had been contemplating joining Flatirons. No longer.

"I'm disgusted with it," Richter said. "They (Flatirons) were on my Facebook page, and I took them off last night because of the blog post. We will never attend that church, ever."

But a four-year member of the church, 24-year-old Lafayette resident Samantha McIlrath, was more accepting of the Burgen and Nickell messages.

"At the end of the day, no matter what society deems normal, I have to focus on my own marriage and fight to stay true to the vows and convictions I, myself, committed to," said the married mother of two.

"I have complete respect for Jim and Scott and their love for God and people are undeniable. I'm glad that no matter my stance, I know I'm welcome at Flatirons."

Clergy feeling called to take a stand

Boulder's St. John's Episcopal Church has a congregation of about 1,500, roughly one-tenth the size of Flatirons. But the Rev. Susan Springer, rector at St. John's, said the issues of same-sex civil unions and marriages are coming to the fore for clergy across the religious landscape.

At St. John's, it is expected that a new policy governing both same-sex blessings and heterosexual marriages will be ready for congregational input and a vote of the vestry by summer, and likely finalized by the summer's end.

"I don't think anybody in my faith tradition is out to destroy marriage between a man and a woman," Springer said. "I think we are out to find a way to offer the same blessing and the same sense of inclusion to same-sex couples. And I think we stand as prophetic witness, that same-sex couples ought to enjoy the same legal benefits, if you will, as heterosexual couples."

Springer also said, referring to Burgen and Nickell at Flatirons, "I respect these pastors for having the guts to take a stand. Any time you take a stand as a faith leader, whether it's gun control, same-sex blessings, capital punishment or immigration, it's very risky -- and yet the paradox is, we are called to take a stand.

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